Eye-on-Retail Daily Tipsheet Archives

Inside Target’s New Marketing Playbook by Adrianne Pasquarelli at Ad Age. “An endurance athlete, Rick Gomez has completed numerous marathons and half-Ironman races. He’s even done triathlons. But running the marketing department of Target Corp. might be his toughest challenge yet…”It’s incredibly competitive,” said the 47-year-old exec now in charge of Target’s $450 million measured media account. “The headlines are constantly talking about how retailers are shutting stores and on the verge of bankruptcy. There’s going to be a lot of consolidation of winners and losers. We at Target are going to fight like hell to be a winner.”Read more

What’s left of Gordmans chain will become off-price retailer like TJ Maxx, new owner says by Paige Yowell at Omaha World-Herald. “The one thing all of us have to acknowledge: It’s the one area of retail that has continued to prosper, even in difficult times,” Stage Chief Executive Michael Glazer said of the off-price model during a conference call with Wall Street analysts Thursday.”Read more

Foot Locker Q1 Comp Sales +0.5% “The slow start we experienced in February, which we believe was largely due to the delay in income tax refunds, was unfortunately not fully offset by much stronger sales in March and April.”Press release

Amazon Prime Day is coming again in mid-July by Fareeha Ali at Internet Retailer. “Amazon has not disclosed the date of this year’s one-day sale, but sources tell Internet Retailer the event will be held the week of July 10-16, and will last for 30 hours.”Read more

J.C. Penney’s new home department sales to outfit hotels, residences by Korri Kezar at Dallas Business Journal. “Ellison said J.C. Penney decided to sell its goods business-to-business after being approached by hotel operators already buying bedding, bath and window products from the company’s website. But J.C. Penney also sees an opportunity to sell the products to businesses like healthcare and nursing facilities, non-profits and restaurants.”Read more

Former Target CMO Jeff Jones will join startup as an advisor by Katie Roof at TechCrunch. “Brit + Co…is announcing an additional $15 million in funding…will be using the funding to expand its digital content business that targets women. They also will be using it to build more branded merchandise for their partnership with Target…She likened the brand to “the magazine version of Pinterest.”Read more

Google Tango bringing indoor AR mapping to 400 Lowe’s stores by Scott Stein at CNET. “Currently, a few Lowe’s stores already using this mapping technology can let shoppers borrow a Tango phone to try the service — which is necessary, since only two phones (the Lenovo Phab 2 Pro, and the upcoming Asus Zenphone AR) can take advantage of the in-store augmented mapping.”Read more

Consumer Reports: Of the 58 sunscreen lotions, sprays and sticks rated 20 of them tested at less than half of the SPF listed on their label via Today Show. “Trader Joe’s Spray SPF 50+ received an excellent rating, along with Banana Boat SunComfort Clear UltraMist Spray and Equate Sport Continuous Spray SPF 30.”Read more

How JCPenney Is Using Mobile To Boost In-Store Purchases by Gavin O’Malley at MediaPost. “Do you still believe that mobile is the future of media and marketing? Well, “Then you’re probably really far behind, right now,” says James Meeks, Mobile Product Director at JCPenney…JCPenney is having success with so-called “use and kill coupons,” which can only be redeemed on the day that they’re sent to people’s mobile phones.”Read more

Wawa is going to D.C., though where remains a mystery by Michael Neibauer at Washington Business Journal.Read more

Why Amazon’s Probably Not Going To Blow Up Wireless Next by Aaron Pressman at Fortune. “…in some ways, it makes perfect sense, as was rumored this week, that Amazon is talking wireless with Dish Network…But there’s actually a lot less than meets the eye to latest efforts from new entrants. Consumers shouldn’t get too excited, nor investors too worried…”Read more

Ex-Staples SVP Joins Restoration Hardware as CTO “RH announced the appointment of Prakash Muppirala as Chief Technology Officer and President of RH Digital Innovations.”Press release

Reporter disconnected or transferred to the wrong department seven times for Walmart Grocery Pickup order – but still calls it a winner by Danielle Serino at WKYC 3 NBC.Read more

Revenue for China’s Alibaba surges 56% for the year on e‑com gains via Internet Retailer. “Alibaba’s earnings lagged estimates after it swallowed a higher tax bill and splurged on the entertainment and cloud computing businesses that are fueling revenue growth. The shares dropped the most in almost a year.”Read more

How a cold-brew coffee startup landed on Target shelves by Lauren Ohnesorge at Triange Business Journal. “When Target called in September, she had a fractured foot. With crutches, she “hobbled” on a plane to Minneapolis to meet with the buyer, she recalls. “I got there with a dress on and a backpack full of Slingshot and sat down for a meeting,” she says.”Read more

Why Amazon’s Delivery-Drone Team Is Obsessed With Geese at Bloomberg. “The e-commerce company said Thursday it has started development of an air-traffic control system to manage its fleet as the drones fly from warehouses to customers’ doors. Amazon created a new research and development team near Paris…”Read more